Services

For safety…
Brakes need to be regularly maintained and serviced.

Brake Pad and Shoe Replacement
Brake pad problems can usually be identified by squealing or grinding brakes. If your brake pads deteriorate completely, you’ll hear a grinding metal-on-metal sound when braking, meaning that it’s likely too late to salvage your rotors or drums! Those with knowledge of auto repair may be able to replace brake pads and rotors at home, but one should always see an auto repair professional immediately when having brake problems. New Era Automotive discourages any non-professional from attempting brake shoe replacement.

Brake Rotors
In a disk brake system, rotors are attached to your vehicle’s wheels. When the brake pads grip the rotor, they bring both the rotor and wheels to a stop by converting kinetic energy into thermal energy. The friction between the pads and the rotors cause small grooves to appear over time. Resurfacing brings the rotor surface back to a “like-new” condition, however, this removal of metal from the rotor itself means that the braking performance will be inferior to that of new rotors. Because of this, New Era Automotive generally recommends that rotors be replaced rather than resurfaced. A common complaint usually caused by rotors is a shimmy, shudder or shaking under braking. Warpage of the rotors is the most common cause for this condition. Warpage is likely to occur whenever the rotors are thermally shocked, such as after driving through a large puddle of water after hard braking.

Caliper Replacement
The brake caliper houses your brake pads and fits around the rotor like a clamp, pressing the pads against the rotor when the brake pedal is pressed. A brake caliper problem could cause uneven braking, making the car pull to one side under braking. Uneven braking can also cause your vehicle to slide out of control in bad weather conditions, so contact New Era Automotive as soon as possible.

Brake Fluid Replacement
Brake fluid will absorb water from the air over time, causing the brake pedal to have a spongy feel as the absorbed water boils into a compressible gas after just a few hard stops. With that said, modern brake systems are well sealed with very little water absorption occurring, but even such, brake fluid replacement is still very important. This is due to the fact that most brake lines are bundy tubing which is manufactured using copper. When brake fluid loses its anti-corrosive properties, the first element that is leached into the fluid itself is copper. The best way to test the brake fluid for copper is with special test strips. With the proliferation of anti-lock braking systems (ABS), keeping the brake fluid fresh helps to ensure that expensive ABS components are kept safe from corrosion. Regardless of the presence or absence of anti-lock braking components, corrosion occurring within any brake system can lead to a very unsafe situation. So don’t wait, bring your vehicle by New Era Automotive to find out if your vehicle is in need of new brake fluid.

Wheel Bearings
Wheel bearings are found inside of the wheel’s hub, allowing the wheels to spin freely. They can become worn over time, causing noise and vibration. If they fail completely, the vehicle will become very difficult to control and unsafe to drive. Wheel bearings should be checked for noise and play every oil change. New Era Automotive inspects wheel bearings during every maintenance service.

Anti-Lock Brake System
Anti-lock Brake Systems (ABS) ensure that the wheels don’t stop rotating during braking, preventing the car from skidding, thus allowing greater control of the vehicle during a panic stop. If your ABS light comes on, visit New Era Automotive for a free diagnostic scan of your ABS system.

Brake Hoses
A brake hose is a tube carrying pressurized brake fluid from the master cylinder to the brakes. A crushed hose can cause a lagged or slow brake, and a leak in the hose can cause the brake, or the entire brake system, to fail. These don’t need to be replaced often, but should be replaced at the first sign of cracking or wear.